Thursday, 31 December 2015

I've changed my post slightly today with the events that have happened over the last 24 hours.
People have seen the weather reports and news footage from the UK, and have sent messages and notes to check on whether we're okay here, from the four corners of the globe.
Canada, Australia, Middle East, South of the UK to way up high at the top of Scotland.
When something like this happens you realise just how technology keeps you in touch with family and friends.
I have to say I was deeply touched and appreciated each and every one of them.
I should state right here and now that we are fine after the storm 'Frank' visited yesterday... but I know we are extremely lucky and many people out there haven't been.
We live on a high hill and so were not effected by the River Dee flooding it's banks.
I've seen incredible footage of familiar places that are virtually unrecognizable now.
But as with disasters there are always wonderful stories of good will and incredible caring people pulling together from the local community.
So thank you to all of the emergency services, agencies, helpers, carers and anyone who has been a helpful elf in one form or another at this time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~And now onto my original post.... about more elves.
It's time for all of the helpful Christmas Elves to put up their feet and kick back.

All of the hard work has been done and it's time for reflection.

Personally, I had a lovely Christmas with family and friends and I hope that you did too.

We had lots of incredible food, lots of fun and enjoyed all of the festivities.

But it seems to be over far too quickly, but isn't that always the case.

When you are really enjoying something... it is over before you know it.

I'm contemplating many things at the moment and feel the year to come will have lots of changes.

Hopefully all of them for the good.

Have you decided on any new year resolutions yet?

I'm quite pleased that even with being so busy... I managed to do a quick sketch and painting.

After being 0.3kg overweight with my flight luggage, I felt I had to use my art supplies at least once.

As soon as I saw my sister's new addition to her Christmas decoration hoard, I knew I wanted to paint him. He is so cute... but I'm not sure that the sheep who normally sits on that shelf has the same opinion.

Just look at him peeping from behind.

Here he is... although a little rushed I was still pleased that I actually managed to do one painting!
I now see that I should have added more shade etc but hey ho... it was a busy Christmas holiday after all.

Sunday, 29 November 2015

I couldn't resist taking a photo of them this morning, but unfortunately I had to take it from inside an upstairs window.

The sheep are still a little nervous in their new home and run at the least thing.

They're just come right up to the house and set the intruder light off, but it's too dark to take the photo now. Mufftypup is aware of them being there, but can't work out what they are... or what she should do about it. We're keeping a close eye on here when she goes out into the garden.

I think the ewes might think she's a lamb.

A small lamb!
(for those of you who haven't met Muffin... here's a brief video of her woodland walk this morning)

Friday, 27 November 2015

I'm happy to say I haven't been near any of the shops all day... they can get on with it as far as I'm concerned.

Instead, I've been a busy bee, secret squirrel, Santa's little helper or whatever you'd like to call it... by driving around my local area leaving artwork for people to hopefully pick up and enjoy... for FREE.

It's all part of Scott Wong's idea to spread random acts of kindness to be enjoyed, instead of fighting and stampeding each other to purchase an electrical item or whatever, that we probably don't even need!

I started early this morning before the rain came and drove around my local area.

I left a piece in a park and one near a cafe (which to my delight disappeared within minutes of me walking no more than twenty paces away) I then went to a favourite walk of mine and left a piece on a gate and the final piece in a school playground.

I was beside myself with delight when I returned home to find that the school had left a message on twitter to thank me!

It supposed to be my act of kindness, but I have to admit I've had so much fun and delight from taking part in this project I'll probably do it again next year.

Friday, 20 November 2015

Here he is finished (well sort of... I may scan him before making any more tweaks) my wolf... although it's not the best photo due to light issues.

It seems quite appropriate to have designed a wolf because yesterday we had an incident with the sheep in the adjacent field!

Now I know you'll all immediately think there was a wolf involved, but thankfully we don't have wolves in our part of the country!

No... this was a little white Jack Russell dog who ran from the woods and tried to round up the sheep. I'll forgive you if you have a little giggle here because that does conjure up comic thoughts, but no unfortunately this little chap was extremely excited and started to separate the sheep, biting their legs and ears. I ran out as soon as I saw him and managed to get said little dog away from one particular sheep, who was bleeding from his ear.... for the dog only to run after the rest of the herd.

So this was serious, I had to call in the fitter, younger troups...(my son) to take the dog lead and to try to round him up.

I should add at this point the owner was nowhere to be seen!

Unfortunately, seeing the tables had turned and now the hunter was the hunted, he took a massive sprint onto the woods (as fast as his little legs could go... but it's amazing how fast they go when your on the run!)

The farmer was called and he did a quick roundup to check the flock were all okay.

He seems quite resounded to the fact that people keep their dogs off the lead and this is a regular occurrence.

I assured him that I'll be making sure McMuffy isn't a nuisance... although she could hardly chase them for long with her little legs even if they thought she was a dog.

I think they'd possibly think she was a lamb!

We're only 4 degree's this morning and there's a warning that snow is on the way for tonight and tomorrow. It'll be our first, so I'm sort of excited but also dreading it.

Oh and I'm taking part in the random act of kindness to FLOOD the streets with ART on Black Friday (27th November) If you'd like to know more... then click here
I'm also helping with my daughter's Christmas card orders.
Here I am at the centre of all the activity.
with the little fluffy quality controller!

(the photo was taken last year... I haven't started dressing up either the rooms or myself yet!)
If you'd like to see more of my daughters design work... then click here

I'm off now to light the fires and add more
thermal layers... if that's even possible!

Wednesday, 18 November 2015

It doesn't take much, but it can have such an impact on someone's day.

Upon hearing all of the horrendous atrocities that are have been happening during these last few weeks, I think it's so important that we try to do whatever we can even no matter how small a gesture, as long as it's a positive gesture.

It's not only for the person receiving the smile, but also for the giver.

This week I've been even more aware of trying to help people and smiling.

(Not in a creepy way of course... I thought I should just clarify that point)

So, when I received an invition from Nicola McLeanto join a special project, I knew I had to accept.

Basically, it is for anyone to join whether you're a artist, crafter, potter, knitter, jewelry maker or whatever you create then you could join in too.

So here's my invitation for you to join if you wish...

The project is called FLOOD the streets with ART.

This will be the third year that Scott Wong has co-ordinated this fantastic random act of kindness.

(My first year participating...)

The event will take place on Black Friday which is 27th November.

Everyone everywhere on the entire planet is invited to create something and then leave it on the streets as a random act of kindness for someone to pick up, take home and love.

Scott is asking everyone to be involved and that your art (no matter what you create) be dropped on Black Friday.

A simple tag explaining that the art is FREE and hasn't been left behind, discarded or rubbish is all that's needed.

If you can't or don't feel like participating, then please just share!

I'm not sure how many or which pieces of my art work I'll be dropping in my local area, but I'm really looking forward to join in. If anyone wants to participate but is unsure or has questions... then please write in the comments below and I'll try to answer them. Thank you

They're a fantastic bunch of creative artists, so I know they'll be interested in this random act of kindness... but I can certainly understand if it's a busy time for some with Christmas preparations etc and they'll not be able to manage.

I better carry on with the WOYWW show and tell... because Julie over at Stamping Ground Bloglikes to keep our post brief.(Sorry Julie this is a little larger than usual)

Here's where I've been working today... on my kitchen table once again.

I'm helping my daughter with her Christmas card orders.

If you'd like to see more of her work then click on the link in my sidebar... to be magically transported to her blog.

I've not really got into the Christmas spirit yet, but this will certainly help.

This particular collection is destined to a shop in London!

I'll leave it there for this week, but just give the FLOOD the streets with ART a thought.

Even if you manage to only drop one item... just think what a lovely surprise that would be for the person finding it.

It's going to take quite some time to finish him, but it's all about the journey... right?

I'm contemplating giving him blue eyes... what do you think?

I find drawing these ink designs very relaxing.

It's easy to just nip in for a few minutes here and there (unless I can squeeze an hour or so) and leaving everything out on the table in between sessions is an added bonus.

It is only one ink pen and paper after all!

Click on the icon below if you'd like to join the party.

I'm also joining Alexandra over at Sunday Sketches.

I know my previous title from Wednesday's blogpost caused quite a stir... thinking that a wolf might have been a threat to McMuffy. I'm happy to report she's fine and we don't actually have real wolves here in Aberdeenshire... well none that I know of.

Talking of Muffy... she's at the vets this morning having her teeth cleaned.

I'm a little nervous it has to be said and I can't wait to go to collect her.

Here's a photo I took of her this morning.

It was the moment that she realised she wasn't going to the park... but to the vet's instead (again!)

She's fighting fit and got a clean bill of health earlier in the week, but she needs her teeth cleaned.

Tuesday, 3 November 2015

It has highlighted what I already knew... that it's my favourite season.

Maybe it's the fact that summer very often is a disappointment here in Bonnie Scotland, so when the temperature rises to 15 degrees (in October!) I'm right there to appreciate it as much as I can.

The photo above was taken whilst on a dog walk.

Who wouldn't love nature's palette?

Everywhere you look there's something to catch the eye.

Berry's, leaves, sunsets and sunrises to name but a few.

This Canna Lily which I planted into a large pot along with fuschias, ivy and lobelia (which is hidden under all that foliage) hasn't flowered this year, but I'm not too sad about that because just look at the colour of those leaves.

I just have to try to save it from frost and the plummeting temperatures over night with our clear skies.

I'm thinking about wrapping it with bubble wrap, but if anyone has any tips... I'm all ears!

The floating leaves caught my attention the other day on another dog walk.

The windy conditions caused them to float and congregate at one end of the lake.

There's nothing better than when a chore becomes fun don't you think?

Here's my son initially helping me to collect some of the fallen leaves from the trees in our garden... but as often happens... things took a turn for to the fun side with a game of hide and seek.

Muffin had to find him when he had buried himself in the leaves.

She's never played this game before so it was fun to see her reaction.

You may have to look closely to find Muffin... she was nearly buried too.

And finally just when I thought Halloween is over... I got a big scare this afternoon, but thankfully it turned into delight very quickly.
The fog which has been visiting most of the country (mainly further down south) arrived here today.
I looked out of the window to check on the density of the fog this afternoon, when I suddenly noticed white shapes moving in the adjacent field.
Straining my eyes and doing extremely excessive blinks with my eyes were on stalks, I realised that the farmer had brought sheep into the field.
I'm delighted and have wanted the sheep to come nearer to the house since we returned from Australia (they used to be right up to our garden when we last lived here... which was so much fun when the lambs appeared)
I'm not sure what Muffin will make of them... she's never been close to one before.
In fact I don't think she's even seen one.
This'll be fun!
I couldn't take a photo because it's a pea souper out there now, but you know me... I won't be able to resist!

Friday, 30 October 2015

As soon as I saw Tracey Fletcher King's instagram illustration recently of her comfy reading chair, I knew that I needed to draw my own reading corner.

It's been incredibly neglected over the whole summer, so it's time it got a little attention.

Now winter is coming towards us, I hope that I'll be curled up here with a mass of great books to plough through. Bliss!

Obviously with the roaring fire toasting my toes... ahh... I never thought I'd say it but now I think about it... roll on winter if that's the case.

(by the way if you have any recommendations please just pop them into the comments below)

I'm still managing to add to my Inktober Challenge, although I'm still not up to date.

I thought I'd take a photo of the reading corner so that you can see what I was using as a reference.

I've not drawn it exactly, otherwise I'd be here until October 2016, so let's say it's my artistic license.

Here are a few other sketches just in case you didn't see them on my Instagram or Facebook accounts.

If you did, then I apologise... you must be fed up seeing these designs yet again, but we're near to the end of the month.
I'll leave you in peace then.

I've got a thing about Highland Cows.
This one isn't Hetty (drawn last year) but maybe Hilda perhaps?

I had a request to include a grapevine in this challenge... I'm pleased with this one which if you know me is unusual. I think it would be better with a nice glass of red, but maybe I'll have one later!

I like the swirly whirly grapes.

Now here's a very simple design of a fuschia that is still actually blooming in my garden.

It's a beautiful pink puffy ballerina tutu.

And finally, I wasn't going anywhere near Christmas but I've got a few robins in my garden and they're singing beautifully.

I think they want to be drawn.

I'm heading off to the PPF party now to check out other artists and they're amazing work.

About Me

Neesie Natters is where I'd like to share the things that have caught my attention and delighted me.
I've travelled the globe for 24 years but have now returned home. I'll share some of my artwork, travels, books, recipes, garden and photography which are all things that make my heart sing.
It's about following your passions and finding wonder along the way.
Welcome, I'm glad you're here.